craftgrrl | Questing regarding purchasing non homemade items. (Reply)

I am crafty. I bet that most of you are in that same boat (being that this is craftgrrl and all...)

Do you ever feel guilty purchasing an item that you could technically make yourself? Like say you are in a home fashions store and you find a cute pillow.... but it's something that you could make yourself if you had the time/money/drive. So would you buy it?

I find that especially with paintings or art in general I am TERRIBLE at buying anything because I know I could paint something similar myself and it would seem like a waste of money or a waste of my talent or SOMETHING to buy it. But then that happens with 40 things and then I don't have time to do ANY of the projects, I get nothing done, and my walls are still bare.

Is that silly or what?

I LOVE to support the crafting community so I have no issues with buying softies or jewellery or art from fellow crafters, but I guess it's more of an issue with mass produced store bought things.

I guess my question is "Does your crafting/creating ability hinder your decorating/purchasing activities?"

ETA: If you DO duplicate an item yourself is that considered copying? or "inspiration?"